Director Desmond Chng featured in HRD Asia’s article on legal guidance for responsible workforce reductions in Singapore

11 Jun 2025

Director Desmond Chng was featured in Human Resources Director (HRD) Asia’s article, “High-profile job cuts put HR on alert: Lawyer outlines retrenchment risks.” 
 
In the article, Desmond provides legal insights into the challenges employers face when conducting retrenchment exercises, particularly in light of Singapore’s evolving employment laws and the upcoming Workplace Fairness Act.
 
Desmond emphasised that retrenchment exercises should be carried out responsibly and in a sensitive manner. He stressed that retrenchment should be a measure of last resort, undertaken only after all other alternatives have been considered.
 
"People remember how you treat them when things are hard. HR has the responsibility and the opportunity to make that experience more humane", he said. "In volatile times, that kind of leadership builds the foundation for long-term resilience and reputation."
 
With the Workplace Fairness Act expected to increase scrutiny on employment decisions, Desmond highlighted the importance of how the selection process should not only be fair, but should also be seen to be fair. He recommended implementing bias training, anti-discrimination and conversation workshops for HR teams.
 
“Even if the decision was fair, how you communicate it affects how it is perceived, and the wrong perception can trigger disputes just as easily even if there was no actual misconduct”, he added.
 
You may click here to read the full article that appears on HRD Asia.